Stroke Prevention & Recovery
During health advocate Tony Pantalleresco's 8-9-2014 radio show The Remedy (5-6 PM Central Tuesdays and Thursdays) on The Micro Effect, I asked for suggestions on how to promote the body's ability to repair damage from a stroke. Listen to his answer as you look over my notes shown below. Expect restoration within 6 months. You can find more interviews with Tony Pantalleresco and many other interesting guests on Patrick Timpone's radio show archives.
Tony's recommendations:
Niacinamide (B3)
Inositol (another B vitamin)
turpentine in oil:
1 oz turpentine, 5 oz of oil (sesame seed, sunflower, almond, olive, etc.); take 1 tsp. twice daily
avoid grains
wine is ok
choline (sunflower lecithin, egg yolk lecithin, choline bitartrate) << update: skip the egg yolk lecithin in capsules; it needs to be a paste
arginine & acetylcholine (I don't see acetylcholine for sale; I think you take choline and other things to help your body make it)
enzymes (I use the potent and economical Enriching Gifts plant enzymes; use code pa01 for 30% discount)
saturated fats
Lots of companies sell inositol, including Standard Process:
capsules - 400mg, 90 count (36 grams total), $20 ($0.55/gram)
powder - 10 oz. (284 grams), $52 ($0.183/gram)
Another brand, in bulk powder - 1kg, $47.99 + $1.99 ($0.05/gram)
(Like them on FaceBook for specials)
Several varieties of arginine:
http://www.hardrhino.com/products/l-arginine-free-form-amino-powder.html
http://www.hardrhino.com/products/l-arginine-alpha-ketoglutarate-aakg.html
http://www.hardrhino.com/products/l-arginine-l-pyroglutamate-pure-powder.html
Articles on the healthful benefits of sesame seed oil:
http://www.youthingstrategies.com/qualities.htm
http://naturalsociety.com/12-health-benefits-of-sesame-seeds-sesame-oil
Another sunflower seed oil, but does not say if it is cold-pressed:
http://www.amazon.com/La-Tourangelle-Organic-Sunflower-16-9-Ounce/dp/B0042PB70Q
I would get these products in bulk so that it would be easy to mix them up in a smoothie two or three times per day. I also suggest Inclined Bed Therapy to improve circulation, thus allowing the body to more efficiently make repairs while sleeping, and the water cure, particularly since Dr. Jennifer Daniels says strokes are a sign of dehydration.
Omega-3 Oils:
Tony doesn't like omega-3 fish oils, though Dr. Barry Sears does. He has successfully treated extremely serious and even near-death cases with omega-3 oil, and recommends this very pure brand which lists the purity report for every batch on their website. He stresses that while it is important to reduce the mercury, it is much more important to keep the PCB contamination to a minimum. Listen to him on the January 21, 2014 RSB show at 17:15, particularly about the recovery of Randall McCoy in the 2006 Virginia mining accident which starts at 21:42. In a nutshell, Randall was one step away from death with multiple organ failures, yet fully recovered in four months via 15 grams/day of omega-3 oils. You can also listen at http://tiny.cc/omega3talk where I've extracted out the interview. Dr. Sears noted that EPA omega-3 oil quenches the inflammation, while the DHA promotes neurogenesis. I like to remember this by associating E for Emergency, and D for DNA (maybe not exactly accurate, but the association works for me). That's why his brand has a 2-to-1 ratio of EPA to DHA.
A study done on rats showed that less damage occurred when DHA omega-3 oil was given 4-5 hours after the stroke. If Dr. Sears' work was considered and the rats were first given EPA omega-3 oil right after the stroke to reduce inflammation, perhaps even better results could have been obtained. It was also interesting to hear Dr. Sears state that they've had 100% success in curing macular degeneration with high dose omega-3 oil. Note that algae, chia and flax seeds contain omega-3 oils, and supplements based on these are available. For example, Source Omega sells their Pure One algae-based omega-3 product which is mostly DHA, so perhaps that would be good to use after the initial crisis has passed and inflammation is under control, but regeneration of neural cells is important. Their product is produced in a controlled environment and tested to ensure that it is pure from PCBs and other toxins.
Dr. Jennifer Daniels' Stroke Discussion:
Dr. Jennifer Daniels covered the topic of strokes on her weekly radio show in early 2013:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/blakeradio/2013/03/19/healing-with-dr-daniels
Causes:
During the first 25 minutes she discussed lots of drugs that cause strokes, particularly cholesterol meds and the blood thinner Plavix. High cholesterol does not cause strokes, and blood pressure rises as a symptom of strokes. Chronic kidney failure is also a symptom of strokes; cleanse with celery, parsley, and cilantro. See my notes on more ways to support kidney health.
Prevention:
Then she offered natural ways to thin the blood to prevent a stroke:
two garlic capsules per day, or two fresh garlic cloves per day, or a teaspoon of turmeric
Other sources note these ways to thin blood: pomegranate, (also fights infection found in arterial plaque, and reduces plaque), bromelain, ginger, arginine, broccoli, and B-complex.
Cleansing rather than directly thinning the blood is actually a more accurate description of the best course of action. Take a high-potency proteolytic enzyme on an empty stomach to quickly clean the blood. Within minutes any foreign undigested proteins in the blood will be broken down. By far the most potent and cost-effective I’ve found are the Plant Enzymes from Enriching Gifts. Their Heart Algae is also recommended as it contains astaxanthin, one of the highest antioxidants which quenches plaque-promoting inflammation. Though not listed on the label as an isolated ingredient, it contains 40-70mg of astaxanthin; compare that with 4 or 12mg for popular astaxanthin supplements. Use code pa01 for a 30% discount.
B vitamin deficiency also plays a role in strokes. She recommends taking 1 mg of folic acid, about twice the recommended dose, to keep the brain's blood vessels relaxed. Take a B complex if you don't like to take just the isolated folic acid (B9). Note: Dr. Benjamin Lynch stresses to avoid synthetic folic acid in favor of natural folate. Foods rich in folate include lentils, spinach, broccoli, white navy beans, asparagus, cantaloupe, seeds & nuts, and eggs. I know that magnesium is also a relaxant; this article says increased magnesium consumption reduces stroke risk. Leafy greens, beans, and nuts contain magnesium.
Hydration is her strongest recommendation - consume 1 liter of water per 50 lbs. body weight. She says a stroke is a symptom of dehydration.
Recovery:
In the event of a stroke, Dr. Jennifer Daniels’ life-saving advice is to immediately drink water with a teaspoon of salt. You can also take cayenne pepper to open the blood vessels. This advice aligns with the Water Cure Protocol (dissolve a pinch of salt on the tongue before drinking water).
Refuse the typical medical advice of Coumadin and an x-ray with the dye you drink that clogs the kidneys.
After a stroke, strengthening the liver is important. Clean the blood by consuming 1-3 cups of tea made from a teaspoon of milk thistle; tastes a bit like vanilla;. Support the brain to make repairs and build new nerves by consuming good omega-3 fats: 2 tablespoons of chia seeds or 1/4 cup flaxseeds (soak either one in water overnight). Also take sublingual vitamin B12, 1000 mcg per day to repair blood vessels. Take just under a teaspoon of rosemary per day to regenerate and repair brain tissue.
At 39.5 minutes she told the interesting story of how she helped her brother overcome his stroke. Because his blood pressure was borderline after the stroke, she told him how to do enemas to remove blockages. With dietary adjustments (no wheat, dairy, or bad vegetable oils) he is healthier 13 years later than before the stroke.
Dr. Daniels also appeared on Patrick Timpone's radio show on May 13, 2013 to discuss strokes.
Other Options:
Turmeric is a spice of life that's really good for you because it activates regeneration of brain stem cells. It's not only great to reverse dementia, but is also key in recovering from stroke. While curcumin is an important component, read how whole turmeric heals the damaged brain.
DMSO is another substance that has many therapeutic uses, including protection from stroke damage.
Dr. Morton Walker chats with Patrick Timpone about the many therapeutic uses of DMSO. He mentioned that it dissolves cataracts, particularly in a formula that a pharmacy could produce if they would search the AMA’s literature.
Janet Perry also discussed DMSO on Patrick Timpone's show. She has a masters in pharmacology and lots of experience. At 17:30 she said that to eliminate damage from a stroke, immediately consume 1 teaspoon of DMSO each 15 minutes for the first hour (can mix in some orange juice), then 1 teaspoon each half hour for the next hour, and finally 1 teaspoon each hour for the next several hours. Scans will show a stroke occurred but no damage will be present. DMSO has a lot of therapeutic uses; good for putting over arthritic joints, nebulizing, and taking internally. It drives small molecules (less than 1000 Daltons; check the MSDS) into the skin, so use it to transport beneficial substances deep into the tissue for better absorption (but be careful to avoid contact with toxic chemicals that you don't want to absorb). Athletes use it all the time externally on a wrap to reduce recovery time by 75%. You can get DMSO from feed stores or online quite cheaply. You often dilute it down with distilled water. At about 14:30 she talks about Flexcin Lotion that combines DMSO with emu oil, aloe, and CM8 (Cetyl Myristoleate, a fatty acid that heals joints).
Also see http://www.dmso.org (Dr. Jacob’s site).
In his last interview, Dr. Linus Pauling recommended vitamin C and lysine for the treatment of cardiovascular disease and to reverse the atherosclerotic process. The essential amino acid lysine present in the artery wall binds to lipoprotein A, causing development of atherosclerotic plaque and hardening of the arteries. By consuming a 500mg lysine supplement you put extra lysine molecules in the blood, which competes with the arterial lysine, thus preventing and reversing lipoprotein A plaque. He recommended at least 2 grams of vitamin C per day. Note that Morley Robbins cautions against consuming ascorbate acid as compared to vitamin C because it can cause dysregulation of the important trace mineral copper; listen to his interview at http://tiny.cc/coppertalk and follow my notes in the comments there summarizing his key points.
Consuming apples could help reduce strokes.
A compound found within Red Sage, salvianolic acid B, alleviates brain damage and reverses some motor function loss in a rat model of stroke. It was concluded that Sal B stimulated the neurogenesis process, alleviated neural cell loss, and improved motor function recovery after brain ischemia. Research into the traditional Chinese medicinal use of salvianolic acid B shows that it essentially promotes microcirculation of the blood.
Lithium orotate also promotes neurogenesis. Neuropharmacologist, nutritional biochemist, and functional medicine consultant Tim Marshall, Ph.D. recommends lithium orotate, magnesium, and fish oil to recover from a stroke.
The amino acid taurine promotes growth of new brain cells as well, plus it combats fatty liver by breaking down LDL cholesterol into bile acids. Taurine is sold in 1 gram capsules, but you can also find it in bulk powder form. It is very safe, and most of the benefits occurred at higher doses. A teaspoon mixed into a smoothie twice per day would be good.
Fisetin is a flavonol primarily found in strawberries. Salk Institute scientists discovered its antioxidant properties reduced cognitive deficits and inflammation associated with aging in mice. Here are more benefits of fisetin.
Even years after a stroke, some people have had remarkably rapid recovery success in using Dr. Edward Tobinick's experimental treatment of injections of the arthritis drug Etanercept (Enbrel) to neutralize the inflammatory chemical TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor). An injection or two restores function. There's some controversy over this treatment and it is not covered by most insurance plans, but it may be worth checking out:
http://www.sfgate.com/health/article/How-etanercept-is-aiding-stroke-victims-4128887.php
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZwCDT50PJI
http://www.strokebreakthrough.com
Here is a recent success story of this treatment: At 9 minutes into the second hour of the Monday, 8-10-2015 episode of the Robert Scott Bell show, Dr. Buttar talked about how he treated his aged dad who had a stroke almost two years ago. Initially his dad was not predicted to ever walk again, but Dr. Buttar used alternative methods rather than the standard of care and got him walking within a month, although he needed a walker or cane. Recently he came across info about Dr. Tobinick's technique of spinal injection of the TNF antagonist drug, and after performing the procedure his dad was able to walk pretty normally and to use his hand again within just ten minutes.
Hydrogen gas, obtained from ionic foot baths or other methods, along with carbon 60 has resulted in remarkable stroke recoveries.
Dr. Edward Taub of the University of Alabama at Birmingham developed Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) to help stroke patients recover. It involves intense rehabilitation by constraining the good working limb thus forcing the affected limb to be used. The brain’s circuitry is reorganized (cortical remapping) and function can be restored in 2-3 weeks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constraint-induced_movement_therapy
http://partners.nytimes.com/library/national/science/health/060200hth-brain-stroke.html
http://www.apa.org/monitor/oct04/brain.aspx
Here is a similar case where a patient regained much functionality via rehabilitation; had some regards to vision:
http://physical-therapy.advanceweb.com/Features/Articles/A-Clearer-Vision.aspx
Remapping the brain reminds me of learning a language via total immersion in that environment. When I visited Hong Kong for two weeks, I just began to naturally think in the Cantonese language structure; back at home I would find myself spewing crazy English sentences that were structured in Cantonese grammar, leaving out the required English connector words like “the” or “to”. So the brain is very adaptable and plastic, which provides its self-healing abilities.